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Topnotchsy
Featured Contributor, The best players in history?
- Aug 7, 2008
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Over the last 10-15 years, Albert Pujols has pretty much been the undisputed best hitter in baseball. With the biggest hitters of the 90's wrapping up their careers (and on the decline), Pujols seemed to be in his own class of hitters in the 21st century.
But while his career totals are extremely gaudy, he's definitely been in decline over the last few seasons. Meanwhile, having already been one of the best hitters in baseball for years, Miguel Cabrera has taken his career to a different level over the past 5+ seasons, winning 2 MVP's, a Triple Crown, 3 batting titles etc.
Looking at their career numbers, Cabrera has definitely bridged the gap quite a bit:
Traditional "slash" stats (Pujols has 1300 more at bats)
Pujols: .315/531/1626
Cabrera: .320/401/1403
Pujols: .315/.401/.585
Cabrera: .320/.398/.564
Career totals:
Pujols:
Hits: 2564
Doubles: 568
Runs: 1539
Cabrera:
Hits: 2247
Doubles: 474
Runs: 1193
The comparison is not completely fair because Pujols's averages have all dropped due to a few years of decline (he used to have a career batting average over .330.) That said, Miggy still seems to be in his prime (at an age when Pujols was already pretty far from his peak).
There's still a lot of baseball left to be played, and their career totals could one day rank right near the top of some significant offensive categories.
When it is all said and done, who do you think will be the greatest hitter of the generation?
But while his career totals are extremely gaudy, he's definitely been in decline over the last few seasons. Meanwhile, having already been one of the best hitters in baseball for years, Miguel Cabrera has taken his career to a different level over the past 5+ seasons, winning 2 MVP's, a Triple Crown, 3 batting titles etc.
Looking at their career numbers, Cabrera has definitely bridged the gap quite a bit:
Traditional "slash" stats (Pujols has 1300 more at bats)
Pujols: .315/531/1626
Cabrera: .320/401/1403
Pujols: .315/.401/.585
Cabrera: .320/.398/.564
Career totals:
Pujols:
Hits: 2564
Doubles: 568
Runs: 1539
Cabrera:
Hits: 2247
Doubles: 474
Runs: 1193
The comparison is not completely fair because Pujols's averages have all dropped due to a few years of decline (he used to have a career batting average over .330.) That said, Miggy still seems to be in his prime (at an age when Pujols was already pretty far from his peak).
There's still a lot of baseball left to be played, and their career totals could one day rank right near the top of some significant offensive categories.
When it is all said and done, who do you think will be the greatest hitter of the generation?